Wrench



Sept. 1.3, 1932. F BRADY 1,877,642

WRENCH Filed 0G13. 6. 1931 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY Sept. 13, 1932. H, BRADY 1,877,642

WRENCH Filed oct. e, 1951 Sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES HERBERT F. BRADY, OF- WIN'ONA, .MESOTA WRENCH Application mea october e, 1931'. serial No. 567,271.

The present invention relates to wrenches and eomprehends a construction whereby the jaws thereof can be adjusted and held fixed relatively by means operable with one hand of the user, so that the wrench can be both quickly and conveniently used.

In carrying out the invention, the wrench embodies a fixed jaw and a relatively movable jaw associated with means for adjusting the same with relation to the liXed jaw, and holding it in any given position, and which means is controlled by a single operating lever arranged in juxtaposition with the handle of the wrench to be simultaneouly gripped therewith.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detail description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherem.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with the present .invention.

Figure 2 is a similar View with the cover plate removed and partly in section.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating a different position of the operating lever.

Figure 4 is a similar view illustrating how the wrench is used.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of line 5 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the forward end of the wrench handle.

Figure 7 is a detail view of the movable jaw.

Referring to the drawings in detail 10 indicates the body of the wrench which is used as a handle, and at one end of which is arranged the fixed jaw 11. The handle is recessed for a portion of its length as at 12 to receive the operating mechanism to be hereinafter described, and is further formed with 50 a channel 13 in which the shank 14 of the movable aw 15 operates. The recess 12 and lehannel13 are covered by a plate 1 6 which is secured to the handle byl fastening elements 17 so that the plate can be removedas the occ-' asion may require. Manifestly the jaw. 15V is t mounted' for sliding movement toward and 55 away` from the fixed jaw 1.1, and controlled inits movements Aby the mechanism to be presently described. i v The shank 14 of the movable jaw is 'pro,Y Y. vided with alongitudinal series of teeth 18 '60 and meshing with 'these teeth is thesegment 19 of. a gear including a relatively larger' segment 20; Pivoted within ythe handle 10 'as at 21 is a 1ever22 from which projeetsan integralpawl 23 adapted to engage the teeth e5 of thesegment 20of said gear, and thereby Vnormally hold the movable jaw 15 lixed lwith vrelation to the handle. A coil spring 24 has one end connected with the segment 20 of- -vthegear and its opposite endiconnected with 70 the llever Consequentlythe lever 22 is springiinluenced in one direction to nor- `mallyfmaintain the pawl23 in engagement with the segment'20l of the gear.4 Pivotally v f iconneetedwith the segment 19v ofsaid gear `'I5 is one'end of a 1ink'25, the'opposite: endl of which is longitudinally slotted as at 26 and Vreceives: a pin27 carried by the lever 22'. Bv virtue of this'construction the lever vcontrols I `the movements of the sliding jaw, and is also `operable to effect a release of said jaw for adjustment thereof.l

- In practice, assume that jaws 11Vand15 larer irl-'theposition` illustrated in Figuref2, nand Vit'is desired-to adjustfthemovable B5 15. Forthis purpose the lever 22 is moved 4upon its pivot 21 within theha-ndle'l, 'thereby. separating' thev pawl 23 from the segment 20of the gear, and whentlre pin27engagesthe 1 `adjacent end of the slotted link 25, the latter is'piilled apart td partly rotate the gear 4and thereby lmove the jaw la' the desired distance `away-from the jaw 11.. thisoper'ation thespringf 24 is' placed lunder tension, and after the wrench hasb'een placed about g5 the `nut 28 or other object to be grasped by the jaws, the lever22` can be slightly released to' allow the spring toreverse the rotation of said gear and thereby mov'ethe jaw 15 toward. the. jaw 11, into proper gripping relation therewith. When the lever is fully released the spring 24 moves the pawl 23 into engagement with the segment 20 of the gear and thereby holds the jaw 15 fixed with relation to the jaw 11 in its given adjusted po-l sition. By reason of the construction illustrated wherein the lever 22 is arranged to` be grasped by the same hand thatl grasps the handle 10 of the wrench, it will be manifest that the wrench can be operated in the manner just described andquickly and conveniently used with one hand. Furthermore the jaw 15 can be easily adjusted in either direction through the instrumentality of a single control lever.

While it is believed that. from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to whatV is herein shown and described and that such changes may be resorted to when desired .as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

Y What is claimedis:

1. A wrench comprising a handle, a fixed jaw thereon, a sliding jaw mounted for move- -ment toward and away from the fixed jaw and including a toothed shank, a gear meshing with the teeth of said shank, a spring in- Y fluenced lever pivoted on said handle and connected with said gear, a pawl projecting from said lever and normally engaging said gear Vto hold the movable jaw stationary, and to permit adjustment of said jaw through the instrumentality of said spring and gear, subsequent to the release of said jaw, and means controlled by said ylever for adjusting the jaw in one direction during the movement of the lever to release said jaw.

Y 2. A wrench comprising a handle, a fixed v aw thereon, a sliding jaw mounted for movement toward and away from the fixed jaw and including a toothed shank, a gear meshing with theteeth of said shank, a lever pivoted on said handle, a pawl projecting from said lever, a spring connecting the lever and gear to normally hold theipawl in engagement with the latter and to adjust the movrevit-'L one end pivotally connected with the gear, and a slot and pin connection between the other end of the link and said lever, whereby the jaw is adjusted in an opposite direction during the movement of the lever to effect a release of said pawl.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature.

' HERBERTv F. BRADY.

able jaw in one direction subsequent to its.v

release and under the control of saidk lever, and means controlled by said leverfor adjusting said jaw in an opposite direction during the movement of the lever to effect a release of said pawl.

3. A wrench comprising a handle, a fixed jaw thereon, a sliding jaw mounted for movement toward and away from the fixed jaw and including a toothed shank, a'gear meshing with the teeth of said shank, a lever pivoted on the handle, a pawl projecting from said lever, a spring connecting the lever and gear to normally hold the pawl engaged with the latter, and to operate the gear andv adjust said jaw in one direction when released from saidpawl, a link having 

